Global impact

The Centre for Engineering Innovation & Entrepreneurship will house multidisciplinary hubs that bring together some of the most innovative minds to address pressing global challenges. The Faculty’s ability to attract the brightest students, many of whom go on to establish themselves in countries around the world, is due in part to these renowned institutes and centres. These centres have already made a tremendous impact around the globe, improving lives through creative engineering solutions. Here are a few select examples of recent achievements.

The Entrepreneurship Hatchery nurtures entrepreneurship in students and faculty and will have a new home in the Myhal Centre.

Multidisciplinary research

The Myhal Centre will also house several multidisciplinary research centres and institutes, promoting a culture of innovation for students and postdoctoral researchers.

Regional Impact

A strong university helps build a strong city.

U of T Engineering has a long history of nurturing exceptional researchers, students and alumni entrepreneurs and leaders whose success contributes to the regional marketplace and positively impacts job and wealth creation in Toronto.

Here are a few recent examples that have helped Toronto earn its reputation as one of the top 10 cities in the world for startups:

Nanoleaf: A bright light on sustainable energy

Founded by U of T Engineering alumni Gimmy Chu (ElecE 0T6), Tom Rodinger (IBBME PhD 0T7) and Christian Yan (ElecE 0T6), Nanoleaf created the world’s most efficient lightbulb and is now being touted as a “green job leader” after opening offices in China and Toronto.

Deep Genomics: Machine Learning for gene therapy

In their first year, Professor Brendan Frey (ECE) and his collaborators secured $5 million seed funding for Deep Genomics. Together, they aim to unravel mysteries contained in the three-billion paired DNA molecules that make up the human genome by applying advanced deep-learning computational techniques.

Cast Connex: Building better buildings

Spun off from graduate research under Jeffrey Packer (CivE)and Constantin Christopoulos (CivE), alumni Michael Gray (CivE PhD 1T2) and Carlos de Oliveira (CivE MASc 0T6) are making buildings earthquake resistant from Toronto to San Francisco with their unique steel castings.

Vector Institute: A global hotspot for AI research

The academia-industry-government centre brings together leading experts in artificial intelligence research and development. With over $200 million in funding, the institute builds on U of T’s longstanding strength in branches of AI such as deep and machine learning, neural networks, augmented reality and autonomous robotics.